When I read your work, Jen, and your reader comments, I am buoyed by the sense that I am not alone.
I’m also deeply conflicted about SM. It’s an intractable conflict for anyone who publishes, isn’t it?
I love the point you made about the need for individual discernment because we are each made and motivated by such different desires and gifts. I fear that I spent too much of my life treating the Bible as a manual, unable to imagine what I could do if I didn’t match up with the cookie-cutter images of Christian women promoted/interpreted by my faith community. You remind me to keep listening and keep showing up. Thank you for this piece. It’s a keeper.
I'm glad it was helpful! And I'm still very much wading through my social media angst. As you're saying here, there is so much discernment required in these lives given by God, each so unique!
Jen, I love your honesty and your words in this space! I resonate with your thoughts on social media, initially thinking it would be a place I could practice writing and encourage others. No just no, I can’t post selfies, and always have friends in mind who are really struggling with life, so try to be honest without sounding depressing! However, taking your writing class at TAG, and the ROL workshop twice, set a flame other desires, as I developed practices to make space to listen to God while having a method to distill out commitments and efforts that were not working any more. All this to say, I will be starting a program in August to pursue a certification in Spiritual Direction at Denver Seminary. Going back to school at 60! It has been a joy to watch God bring clarity to a desire he planted long ago after years of ministry. I’m so grateful for your words in all the spaces, especially here. Thank you and please keep writing!
I couldn't be happier to hear of all that God has been up to, Kathleen, and if a rule of life practice played a small part in the process of discernment, thanks be to God! I love the picture of vitality that you're bearing witness to, that our sixties and beyond can be years of evergreen fruitfulness!
Godspeed to you on your journey Kathleen. I started seminary at 62 and I’m nearly at the halfway mark. I couldn’t have done it a minute earlier. God chooses God’s perfect timing, even when it doesn’t make sense to anyone else! Shalom!
I for one—and I’m sure I am among many:) —am so glad you wrestle with the emotions that come with writing publicly, for an audience. Let me affirm how much your thoughtful faithful craft has served me through the years I’ve been reading your books, articles, and more recently these weekly letters. To write so, is an act of humility and also bravery. I get that. I see it. And I’m served by it. You’re in the ring sweating, doing the hard work. Deeply grateful for your work, Jen! Galatians 6:9 😘
Thank you for wrestling out loud with all the awkwardness and misgivings. I don’t think anyone has an answer for balancing the needful public-ness and the desired contemplative-ness of a writing/teaching life.
When I read your work, Jen, and your reader comments, I am buoyed by the sense that I am not alone.
I’m also deeply conflicted about SM. It’s an intractable conflict for anyone who publishes, isn’t it?
I love the point you made about the need for individual discernment because we are each made and motivated by such different desires and gifts. I fear that I spent too much of my life treating the Bible as a manual, unable to imagine what I could do if I didn’t match up with the cookie-cutter images of Christian women promoted/interpreted by my faith community. You remind me to keep listening and keep showing up. Thank you for this piece. It’s a keeper.
I'm glad it was helpful! And I'm still very much wading through my social media angst. As you're saying here, there is so much discernment required in these lives given by God, each so unique!
Jen, I love your honesty and your words in this space! I resonate with your thoughts on social media, initially thinking it would be a place I could practice writing and encourage others. No just no, I can’t post selfies, and always have friends in mind who are really struggling with life, so try to be honest without sounding depressing! However, taking your writing class at TAG, and the ROL workshop twice, set a flame other desires, as I developed practices to make space to listen to God while having a method to distill out commitments and efforts that were not working any more. All this to say, I will be starting a program in August to pursue a certification in Spiritual Direction at Denver Seminary. Going back to school at 60! It has been a joy to watch God bring clarity to a desire he planted long ago after years of ministry. I’m so grateful for your words in all the spaces, especially here. Thank you and please keep writing!
I couldn't be happier to hear of all that God has been up to, Kathleen, and if a rule of life practice played a small part in the process of discernment, thanks be to God! I love the picture of vitality that you're bearing witness to, that our sixties and beyond can be years of evergreen fruitfulness!
Godspeed to you on your journey Kathleen. I started seminary at 62 and I’m nearly at the halfway mark. I couldn’t have done it a minute earlier. God chooses God’s perfect timing, even when it doesn’t make sense to anyone else! Shalom!
Thank you so much for taking a minute to respond Crystal!, I appreciate your encouragement. Shalom shalom!
Ooo, loving that you're sharing your experience, Crystal! Thank you!
I for one—and I’m sure I am among many:) —am so glad you wrestle with the emotions that come with writing publicly, for an audience. Let me affirm how much your thoughtful faithful craft has served me through the years I’ve been reading your books, articles, and more recently these weekly letters. To write so, is an act of humility and also bravery. I get that. I see it. And I’m served by it. You’re in the ring sweating, doing the hard work. Deeply grateful for your work, Jen! Galatians 6:9 😘
Paola!!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Thank you for wrestling out loud with all the awkwardness and misgivings. I don’t think anyone has an answer for balancing the needful public-ness and the desired contemplative-ness of a writing/teaching life.
Agree - the struggle probably isn't something to resolve but a tension to inhabit!
Love your transparency
Thanks for reading, Kelly!